Sedum plant named ‘BNL-001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sedum  x  Tacitus  cultivar named ‘BNL-001’ is disclosed, characterized large, dark purple to black foliage. Plants produce shoots from the side, forming an unique open-centered form. The new variety is a  Sedum , plants are useful for a variety of ornamental purposes, including outdoor containers and landscape.

Latin name of the genus and species: Sedum telephium.

Variety denomination: ‘BNL-001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sedum cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. Thenew variety originated from an open pollination of an unnamedproprietary, seed parent, Sedum telephium with a group of unpatented,unnamed Sedum telephium. The crossing was made during August of 2008 ata commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

‘BNL-001’ was discovered by the inventor, in July of 2010 at acommercial greenhouse in Sommelsdijk, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BNL-001’ was first performedin Boskoop, the Netherlands, at a commercial greenhouse by axial airsprouts, in October 2010. ‘BNL-001’ has since produced multiplegenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BNL-001’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BNL-001’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BNL-001’ as a new and distinct Sedum x Tacituscultivar:

-   -   1. Deep purple to black foliage.    -   2. Plant form with an open center.    -   3. Unique large foliage.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BNL-001’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘BNL-001’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety is darker in purple/black        coloration.    -   2. The new variety makes shoots from the sides of the plant,        creating an open center in the plant habit not seen in the seed        parent.    -   3. The new variety produces larger foliage than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BNL-001’ are comparable to the known,unpatented, Sedum ‘Black Beauty’. Plants are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘BNL-001’differs in the following:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety is darker in purple/black        coloration.    -   2. The new variety makes shoots from the sides of the plant,        creating an open center in the plant habit not seen in this        comparator.    -   3. The new variety produces large foliage than the seed parent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color typical plants of‘BNL-001’ grown outdoors in Boskoop, NL. Age of the plant isapproximately 2 years. The photographs were taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatmentsor chemical treatments were given to the plants.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BNL-001’ plants grown outdoors in Boskoop,NL. Temperatures ranged from approximately 18° C. to 30° C. during theday and approximately 8° C. to 20° C. at night. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sedum telephium ‘BNL-001’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Axial air sprouts.-   Time to initiate roots: About 14 days at approximately 22° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, brown, not accurately measured with a    color chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.-   Container size of the plant described: In the ground.-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, semi-upright forming a flattened    globular shape.-   Height: Approximately 42.0 cm to top of highest leaf. Approximately    48.5 cm to top of highest inflorescence.-   Plant spread: 81.3 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching, basal as well as lateral    branches. Pinching is not required.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 19 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 6 mm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches. About 26.    -   -   Secondary branches per primary lateral branch.—Average 4.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Color.—Developing: Greyed-purple; 187A, covered with a thin            waxy layer, colored greyed-purple; N187D. Mature:            Greyed-purple; slightly lighter than N186C, fading lighter            towards the base; N148D, covered with a thin waxy layer,            colored greyed-purple; N187D. At Nodes: Yellow-green; 148A            to 148B, covered with a thin waxy layer, colored            greyed-purple; N187D. Near RHS Green 138B, flushed            greyed-Purple N186C and N187B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous with very thing waxy layer colored near            N187D.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Aspect.—Main stems in an average angle of 40° (varying            between 80° and 0° (=vertical)), lateral stems in an average            angle of 30° to main stem.-   Internode: Average 4.4 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 10.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 6.3 cm.        -   Average depth.—2 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to broad bluntly acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely blunt dentate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.-   Color:    -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Greyed-purple to black; in between            N186A and 203B.        -   Young foliage, under side.—Yellow-green to greyed-green; in            between 147A and 189A.        -   Mature foliage, upper side.—Greyed-purple to black; in            between N186C and 203B, fading yellow-green at the base of            the plant; 147A, covered with a thin waxy layer, colored            greyed-purple; N187D and lighter.        -   Mature foliage, under side.—Yellow-green; 148A, tinged            greyed-purple; N186C, covered with a thin waxy layer,            colored greyed-purple.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Greyed-purple; 187B and 187C. Venation color under side: RHS            Greyed-orange 165A.        -   Petiole.—Sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring, into Autumn.-   Inflorescence type: Axillary and terminal compound cyme.-   Inflorescence size (excluding peduncle):    -   -   Height.—Approximately 10.9 cm, including peduncle.        -   Width.—Approximately 5.6 cm.-   Quantity of inflorescence per plant: 1000, depending upon maturity.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Average 220.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Longevity on plant.—About 4 weeks.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Size.—Length: Approximately 5 mm. Width: Approximately 2 mm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute. Petal color, under surface.—Near Greyed-purple;            186A, veined white; 155A.-   Petal color, fully opened:    -   -   Upper surface.—Near RHS Yellow-white; 158D, flushed            red-purple; N74D.        -   Under surface.—Red-purple to Greyed-purple; in between 67B            and 186A. Venation colored near White 155A.        -   Color changes when aging.—No significant change.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Near globular.        -   Length.—Approximately 4 mm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 184B and 184C.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Glossy.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Single whorl rotate, star-like.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Appearance.—Matte all surfaces.        -   Petal color.—When opening: Petal color, upper surface:            Between White 155A and Red-Purple 69C.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Appearance.—Matte all surfaces.        -   Length of sepal.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Width of sepal.—Approximately 1 mm at widest point.        -   Color upper surface.—Near RHS Greyed-purple; 185A, striped            and veined white; 155A, tip yellow-green; 147A.        -   Color lower surface.—Near RHS G Yellow-green; 147B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 8.8 cm        -   Width.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-purple; 187A, covered with a thin            waxy layer, colored greyed-purple; N187D and lighter.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 4 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-orange; 177A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens: (Androecium).    -   -   Number.—Average 10.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 3.5 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Greyed-purple; 186D.        -   Anther length.—0.75 mm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Greyed-red; 179B.        -   Anther shape.—Basifixed, broad ovate.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 4C.        -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.-   Pistil: (Gynoecium).    -   -   Number.—Average 5.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 mm.        -   Style color.—Near Greyed-purple; 187C.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near Greyed-purple; 187C.            Ovary Color: Near RHS Red-purple; 59C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    −20° C. to at least 35° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Sedum observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sedum x Tacitusplant named ‘BNL-001’ as herein illustrated and described.